However, according to TOI, Reliance is said to have received orders to block Free Basics two weeks ago, and the service is still available to subscribers.

Facebook hasn’t confirmed if it has been contacted by TRAI or Reliance concerning the issue. A spokesperson told TNW, “We are committed to Free Basics and to working with Reliance and the relevant authorities to help people in India get connected.”

The request to temporarily block Free Basics — which allows users to access certain sites, including Facebook, at no charge — comes soon after the regulatory agency published a consultation paper asking the public for its opinion on differential pricing for data services. It’s awaiting reponses to help it form guidelines for ensuring net neutrality in the country.

TRAI’s third such paper was released on December 9 and the agency will accept comments until December 31. It will then make recommendations to the Department of Telecommunications for legislation governing services that subsidize internet access, as Facebook’s Free Basics does.

Facebook has been actively lobbying to keep Free Basics alive in India, as the government’s decision to allow or ban it will likely have an effect on its future in other countries where it’s available.